ArticlesNational Health Insurance Bill on Track

The Draft National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill will soon be tabled in parliament.

The Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, revealed this while participating in the debate on the 2019 State of the Nation Address in parliament.

The minister declared that universal health coverage is essential and the NHI will be implemented.

Transformation of the health system was necessary to facilitate universal health coverage.

“Equally importantly, making progress towards universal health coverage requires transformation of the health system and reconfiguration of institutions for pooling of funds and purchasing of services to achieve social solidarity, efficiency, effectiveness and income and risk cross-subsidisation,” he said.

The minister also emphasized that the proposed legislation provided for strong governance mechanisms and enhanced accountability for the use of allocated funds.

He confirmed that unaffordable private health care and poor levels of service delivery in the public sector has undermined the national health care system.

“This Government is determined to end these inequalities and bring quality health care to all as demonstrated by the establishment of the War Room in the Presidency. The President has been a champion of universal health coverage through the National Health Insurance,” he said.

According to the minister, the ‘pooled funds will provide for universal access to quality, affordable health care services for all South Africans irrespective of their socioeconomic status and I repeat, not on their ability to pay”.